A Cardiff taxi driver says he won’t take part in any planned strike action over two weekends this month – because he agrees with the council’s clampdown on cabbies.

Alan Grant, 61, from Caerau in Ely, says Cardiff council is right to follow up on taxi complaints over drivers refusing short-distance journeys.

He said he is considering putting a sign in his taxi letting members of the public know he is willing to take short-distance customers.

Clampdown on refusing fares

The local authority has recently issued guidance from the head of the licensing committee, Councillor Jacqueline Parry, saying that if anyone felt they were wrongly turned down for a journey they should take the driver’s details and report them.

The group’s chairman Mathab Khan says the 90 complaints were made during three weeks of the Rugby World Cup, when “70,000 to 100,000 rugby fans filled up every nook and cranny of the city,” most of who were “fairly drunk.”

'You cannot refuse to take them'

But Alan says the drivers who do refuse short journeys are giving cabbies in the city a bad name, and supports the council looking into matters.

“I’ve taken girls home for free before to make sure they get home safely. I’ve got daughters and I would like to think other drivers would do the same for them.

“I also read the other day that a taxi driver wanted £60 for a journey from Cardiff Castle to Cardiff Gate. It’s an £18 journey on the meter, and that’s if you hit traffic.

'I won't go on strike'

“Within the boundaries of the city you have to put the meter on – it’s only for journeys to outside, for instance Penarth and Newport, where you can negotiate a price.”

Asked if he would participate in the strike, Alan added: “No, I won’t go on strike because I agree with the council – I know many fellow drivers who also do.

“They can’t force us to strike.”

Cardiff county hall

In announcing the action this week, Mr Khan said: “The council received some 90 complaints in three weeks mainly during the Rugby World cup tournament, when 70,000 to 100,000 rugby fans filled up every nook and cranny of the city especially whenever Wales was playing at home or away, and most of them are fairly drunk and some of them are heavily drunk or too drunk to travel in taxis.

Complaints 'during Rugby World Cup'

“Hence the degree of complaints increased significantly, due to the fact that there was 10 times more people in the city, compared to the amount of people we normally have in any given time, and most of them were heavily under the influence of alcohol.

“Unless the full committee of Cardiff council ceases such malpractice with immediate effect and remove Councillor Jacqueline Parry [committee chairwoman] and Dave Holland [Head of Service – Regulatory & Supporting Services] from their position immediately, we will be considering industrial action on Friday, April 15, and Saturday, April 16, between midnight till 4am and will repeat on April 22 and 23.”

In response, Cardiff council defended its right to take disciplinary action against individuals who refuse a fare without good reason.

A spokesman added: “Rather than threatening strike action, we would advise all drivers to understand and abide by their licensing conditions, or face enforcement action for breaching the law.”